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Prosecutors to present final evidence in Ed Burke trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

CHICAGO — Prosecutors in former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke's corruption trial plan to present their final evidence in a critical part of the case.It's perhaps the most significant of the four so-called schemes that prosecutors are presenting to the jury. They are arguing that Burke pressured the developers of the Old Main Post Office to hire his private law firm, in exhange for Burke taking official actions to help the developers.Jurors have been watching secretly recorded videos and listening to wiretapped phone calls that show Burke discussing his dealings with developers.Some of the recordings were made by former Alderman Danny Solis, who agreed to cooperate with the FBI after confronted with evidence of his own crimes.The focus, so far Friday, has been on the contract Burke's law firm signed to represent the developers on another property in Chicago, "The Sullivan Center" on State Street.In a recorded phone call, Solis congratulates Burke on getting the Sullivan Center business, ...

Friday Forecast: Temps in mid 40s, rainfall increases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

CHICAGO — Widespread rainfall Friday morning tapers to scattered showers and drizzle this afternoon as temperatures hold in the lower 40s.  Rain becomes widespread again this evening, before scattered showers taper and end overnight.  Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Some snow is possible in far northwest counties as temperatures fall into the upper 30s. Saturday Forecast: Saturday will be cloudy with highs in the lower 40s.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

MedWatch Digest: Malaria cases on the rise, WHO warns — and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

For Friday, Dec. 1, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Pediatric pneumonia outbreak in OhioAn outbreak of pediatric pneumonia cases has led to an "extremely high" number of hospitalizations.  Ohio is the first state in the nation to report an outbreak of the strain called "white lung syndrome." The average age of the affected children is eight. The youngest is three.  The most common symptoms are a cough, fever and fatigue.  Warren County, Ohio has seen at least 142 cases since August.  Health officials there have yet to find a common thread between the cases.  Parents are worried it's linked to a surge in similar cases in China and other countries worldwide. Malaria cases riseA dire warning from the World Health Organization: the world is in danger of losing the fight against Malaria. Cases of the mosquito-born disease rose by about five million in 20-22, exceeding global targets to contain it.&...

Sayonara Santos: locks already changed at congressional office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Well, at least we know one part of Congress works efficiently: the security team.  A mere couple of hours after his expulsion from the House of Representatives, George Santos has already lost access to his office. After a tumultuous 11 months in office, a resolution to expel Santos passed 311-114, with two voting present. Shortly thereafter, a security team could be seen changing the locks to the now unoccupied office.Santos had fought the expulsion effort, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a news conference and interviews. How to watch the fourth Republican presidential debate “I will not stand by quietly,” Santos declared as lawmakers on Thursday evening debated his removal. “The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you’re going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.”In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into...

Disney World's Haunted Mansion finally adds fan-favorite character from Disneyland ride

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

BAY LAKE, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hatbox Ghost is haunting Disney World's Haunted Mansion for the first time in the character's history.The animatronic character had first appeared in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion in 1969, appearing as a ghost whose head would periodically vanish from his shoulders and appear in a hatbox held in his left hand. But the character was removed shortly after its debut due to technical issues. Then, in 2015, Disneyworld brought the Hatbox Ghost back to the Haunted Mansion, having recognized the continuing popularity of the character even in his long absence."Although brief, his presence sparked a decades-long following, and this reclusive resident of the Haunted Mansion was never forgotten," reads a 2015 entry from the Disney Parks Blog. Disney has ‘enough room to build another Disneyland’ in California city, chairman says Disney World's version of the Haunted Mansion, however, had never been visited by the Hatbox Ghost until recently: On Thursday, the "grim g...

Sweet: After winning a pair of awards in Italy, these Marine on St. Croix chocolates are among the best in the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix took home high honors at the recent International Chocolate Awards world finals.Robyn Dochterman of St. Croix Chocolate Co. (Courtesy photo)The company, run by Robyn Dochterman, won a silver award for its burnt cinnamon and bourbon bar, which consists of — get this! — layers of real bourbon caramel and a ganache filling made by infusing flame-charred cinnamon sticks into cream, all inside brown butter milk chocolate.They also won bronze for macadamia bon bons, which include macadamia blossom honey and brown butter macadamia shortbread cookies along with Venezuelan chocolate.In the Americas division of the chocolate awards, announced in September, the bon bons earned the highest score in the “fillings” category and a gold award, which secured their spot in the global competition.Results of the International Chocolate Awards, the largest craft chocolate competition in the world, were announced Nov. 23 in Florence, Italy. Dochterman he...

"Devastated:" College of Saint Rose community reacts to closure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Students and alumni said they were completely shocked to hear the College of Saint Rose will be closing at the end of the academic year. Now, they're left to wonder where they'll go next and are asking how the college plans to help them. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! One family walking around campus has deep connections to Saint Rose. A mother, who graduated from this school, took her daughter on a tour after she was accepted. That tour is now a trip down memory lane. “I’m really disappointed because, since my mom went there, it was a top pick for me and when I got that letter in the mail I was super excited," Scarlett Forestire said. "Then we scheduled a visit and last night we found out there was no possible future for me here and it was just devastating.”“Floored," Jennifer Forestire, Class of 1995, said. "I don’t even know what to say, I’m actually very, very sad. She’s wearing my sweatshirt, I u...

Body found along a road in Washington Park, Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. -- Illinois State Police are assisting Washington Park officers in a homicide investigation. A man's body was found with several gunshot wounds on Caseyville Road on Friday.There is an active investigation into the death. FOX 2 reporter Kelley Hoskins is working on this story. More details will be posted here as they come into the FOX 2 Newsroom.

Erie High School twins Mason and Jackson Cowgill hunting for elusive state title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

FORT COLLINS — Twin brothers Mason and Jackson Cowgill know what’s on the line Saturday in the Class 4A state championship game.One last chance for a ring. Shoulder to shoulder for one final game.The Erie High School seniors have played side by side since they first donned pads in the second grade in football-crazy Delaware, Ohio. They insist they’re not dwelling on the weight of Saturday’s game.“We can’t make the moment too big,” Jackson said. “We just have to go out and play, like it’s a backyard or something. Just go out and play. That’s what we’ve been talking about all week.”Standing in the twins’ way are the top-ranked Palmer Ridge Bears, who bring a 13-0 record to Canvas Stadium on the Colorado State campus.To win its first state football title since 1997, No. 2 Erie (12-1) must conquer some bitter memories. The Tigers suffered a painful 41-34 loss to Chatfield in the 2021 Class 4A title game, and a...

Freshman state representative from metro Denver resigns, citing “sensationalistic and vitriolic” politics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:07 GMT

A freshman member of the Colorado House cited the difficult “political environment” for her decision Friday to step down, just a year after she was elected.State Rep. Ruby Dickson, a Greenwood Village Democrat and rising star in the majority party, announced her resignation, effective Dec. 11.“While I’m proud of our legislative accomplishments, it has recently become clear that the sensationalistic and vitriolic nature of the current political environment is not healthy for me or my family,” Dickson wrote in a letter to the House’s chief clerk.She also thanked her constituents and called her time in office “the honor of my life.”Dickson did not immediately return a request for an interview.House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat, praised Dickson in a statement soon after her announcement, calling her “a brilliant champion for working families.” McCluskie did not return a request for comment about Dickson’s ci...